A Hanworth shopper has warned customers who have bought goods at stricken High Street chain Peacocks that they will not be able to get a refund if they try to return them.

Angela Smith bought a number of items from the Bracknell store in High Street on Thursday, January 12. She went back to the shop to return one item on Sunday but was told by staff they cannot offer refunds or exchanges now administrators have been called in.

Administrators took over Peacocks Stores Limited last Thursday, January 19, and it was announced 249 employees at the company’s head office in Cardiff are to lose their jobs.

Ms Smith, 42, was given a customer service number by staff at the Bracknell store but received no answer, just a recorded message that said: “Thank you for calling. Goodbye.”

Ms Smith said: “I would like to let people know before they buy anything from Peacocks that they will not get their goods refunded or exchanged because of this. It is really disgusting. Why should we customers suffer?

“The issue is not about the price and it is not only me, there will be many people grumbling.”

A message on Peacocks’ website states purchases made before administrators were brought in will not be refunded or exchanged.

A spokeswoman for KPMG, joint administrators, said: “Unfortunately, due to the severity of the financial situation at Peacocks, we are not in a financial position to allow refunds on goods sold prior to the administration appointment.

“If goods are defective, the customer may have an unsecured claim against the company and can find further details on Peacocks’ website at www.peacocks.co.uk .”

KPMG is hoping to sell Peacocks following the firm’s announcement it has fallen into administration with £750 million worth of debt.